Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-12-30
FREE PRESS FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1ss7~-TwFLvE PAGES

:. FREE PRESS. FRI
nothing without consulting me- You re.
member | was the most respectable of
practitioners in the city. Bnt what was |
compared with what you might be with
youth and all yon gifts Panl-be per
suaded. You may he, If you play the
cards rightly, the King of the profession"
Paul hesitated.
"rhe whole charm of the thing" he
said, tiles in going off suddenly. 70 dis
appear to be no more heard of to be n
dream IN the memory of those who have
believed, to be written about rs one who
appeared, wrought great mdrvels spoke
OF strange powers, and then--vanished.
Think OF that A figure in History for
writers to discuss and to wrangle over
The mysterious Herr Paulus-whence
came her Is he myth ~
Yes, it is a grand cor ception; it is wor-
thy Of you, Paul. But be practical. Oh
for a dream It's like killing yourself
just at the moment when you are certain
to have n grand funeral and a beautiful
send-of notice in all the papers, 1t is
grand-but don't do it, Paul"
81 will consider" said Paul
"When is the next miracle coming off ?"
"On the 23rd--in four days. Nearly ev-
cry thing is ready. 1t will be "a truly touch
ing dav, Even Sibyl will be reconciled to
me, and Tom will be disarmed. | wish
you would put in an appearance, my dear
Daddy, for one night only, as LAX Ibn Me-
nelck."
could that be managed, Paul | am so
lame with this confounded rheumatism,
that am atraid-nO-nO-lt can't be- The
idea must be abandoned"
And on the day after-while their
hearts are all aglow-to vanish 1t will
hA ms ON Rnt lDI do hat
to day. His voice brought back the old
chapel and the old simplicity, and the old
thoughts, A prejudice-a survival-think
no more about it,"
CHAPTER XIV.-ON ADVANTAGEOUS
TERMS.
While they talked there was heard a
single knock-the single knock of hum
BILE person at the door. One knock for the
humble person, two for the postman,
three for the person of social pretentons
Reader, let us be thankful that we can use
the triple knock. The old housekeeper
presently reported that man wished to
speak with the Professor on business.
Party of the name of Medlock, they heard
the caller explain.
Here is the man Medlock, Paul" the
old man whispered. II will talk with him
alone Best for him not to know that you
are in England. Go into the back room
and keep the door open. If | call, you can
come in. If not you can listen"
The caller was man of fifty springs or
Whereabouts. He left his hat and great
coat in the hall and appeared dressed in
black with an open frock coat, wastcoat
= Ia N
of shirt, clean and spotless. But his
clothes were ill-fitting and gave him the
appearance of very humble Baptist min
lister, one of those who have taken the first
step only from the counter to the pulp
in the little country town. He was clean
shaver, thin and pale. His hair was grey,
he was slight of figure, somewhat shorter
than the average, and presented generally
the air of complete insignificance Nobody
is really Insignificant, because anybody
can light lucier match and burn down q
Palace, But some men look insignificant,
especially men who are short and spare
and have small features.
II do not remember you. Mr.. Medlock,
but you have written to me-"
"No sir, you do not. Naturally, because
you have never seen me before. | have ad-
mired you, sir, from the crowd. am re
spectacle, but | hail from the crowd"
There was a perceptable American twaup
ably it had been acquired late in life, and
was grated on that branch of the Essex
dialect which we call Cockney.
You wrote to me about my late pupil
Before we speak of that matter tell me
who you are and what credentials you
possess. What you ask, Mr.. Medlock, is
perhaps bigger thing than you suspect"
81 will tell YOU, sir, if you will grant me
five minutes OF your time. | will show you
my credentials and | will tell you why
wrote to YOU"
"rhen take a chair and proceed"
"My name sir is Medlock-widely known
as Haynes Medlock IN the profession, just
as they say Henry Irving and not Irving
or Charles Dickens ami not Dickens"
In what profession Are you an ac-
tor ~
mo sir. Not an actor. I have been en-
gaged-largely engaged-in the show bus
mess for many years-for eighteen years
in fact"
''In the show business. Did you make
money in that business :"
81 did not, sir. There is money in it, as
nobody knows better than myself But
the money goes to the Boss, not to the
men who run the show for the Boss. I've
helped to run good many shows, but il
seldom amounted to more than grub and
plank, and as for hours--a tram conduc-
tor is not in 1t"
well, sir ~
gradually. First, want You to understand
that | am man of experience. Haynes
| Medlock is well known man in the States,
| though as yet he has never run a show on
his own account. I've been most things
that a man can be connected with shows.
| know the whole business, from taking
the money at the doors, which any one can
do, to preparing the posters and writing
the newspaper paragraphs, which wants
genius. | have also been travelling lectur-
er. | have described diorama between
the music; have lectured on lime-light
views while the operator showed them;
have introduced to the audience the young
lady without arms who played the harp
with her toes; | have made talk on the
stage while the conjuror managed his
tricks; I've travelled with giant and a
dwarf, and lectured on them in their pres
ence: | have gone around with Camera
ODscura. | have been assistant to cram
iologist. There is nothing, believe, in
the nature of show that haven't done,
short OF playing the cornet-not that